The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-05-28

L"And as he prayed, the fashion of his coun-
tenance was altered, and his raiment was white
and glistening. And behold there talked with
him two men, which were Moses and Elias"
Luke tx. go, 3O.l
1t is not possible for us men and
women to understand the whole mind
of Christ to-day. His mission has been
announced by himself, and that is clear
to the individual capable of understand
ing anything. But there were secret
movements in the mind of this person
age, that never can be fully known by
any one in this world. 1t is believed,
and the belief seems to be somewhat
universal, that no one can reach that
splendid estate until after ages and
ages of schooling, in the midst of the
vast influences and sentiments of the
translated life; that by and by as the
result of the long and patient work
manship of God, we shall come to that
after which the heart has longed,
through the periods of existence here.
1t is a blessed hope that permits US to
feel in the midst of our strivings, that
though we have notyet attained, though
we be far from the complete attain.
ment, the time will certainly come when
we shall reach that which is in store
for us, and we shall see the kindness OF
God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
This reflection aids us to an under
standing of why it is that we cannot
comprehend the mind of Christ to-day.
By as much as we are this side of the
complete manhood, by that much we
cannot understand his mind. The an
imal below knows nothing of the mind
of man. The maiden knows nothing
of motherhood. The inferior never
understands the superior. So, accord
ing to the nature of things, it is not
possible for us to grasp the mind OF
Christ. Not until we are able to come
near to Christ, by being like him, shall
we be able to understand the expert
ences that find narrative in the gospels.
When that period of our transforma-
ton arrives, when we can say, II have
the mind of Christ" then all that I'M
usual conduct as reported of Christ in
the gospels, will no longer be strange
to us. 1t will be easy for us to love
our neighbors as ourselves; our enemies
too, and do them good, to lend, hoping
for nothing again; to be kind to the
unthankful and the evil, because we
shall be the children of the highest, not
by creation merely, but by transforna-
ton. 1 apprehend too, when we come
to that glorious estate of Christ-like-
ness, those unusual works recorded of
Christ as miracles, will be open and
plain before us. We shall not see as
through a glass,-blessed be the name
of our God These works seem mar
yelous to us now, because we are so far
away from Christ. Men doubt many
things recorded of Christ, what he did
and said. There are thousand indi-
viduals who doubt that Christ healed
the sick by his word at one time, and
by his touch at another time. They
doubt that Christ could cast out devils,
which are the lusts of the flesh. Thou
sands of individuals who doubt that
Christ could restore the maniac to his
right mind, and send him home to his
family rejoicing. Thousands Of good
Christian people who doubt that greater
works than these should we do. And
yet we have the assurance of Christ
for this last. The astronomer goes out
with his telescope, and sweeps the
heavens, and in his survey discovers
new planet. The next morning the
newspapers, under flaming headlines,
herald his discovery, and men reading
the report say we do not believe it. 1t
is proposed to prove our astronomer.
He is visited and questioned concerning
his discovery, and he gives assurance
that every word of the report is true.
But these men cannot believe. The
demand is made that they shall go out
with our astronomers instruments, and
if they in sweeping the heavens can de-
tect such planet, then they will be-
lieve. They know nothing OF astroD-
omy. They know even less of the tel
escope. They might as well go out
with an elder from which the pith has
been punched, as with that telescope.
They knew nothing of adjusting the
lenses. When one undertakes to look
through, nothing is seen but blurred
and filmy haze, and Immediately these
men run in saying 81 told you there
was nothing in your discovery" The
idea that such men who know nothing
of astronomy, and still less Of that mag
nificent instrument we call the tele-
scope, should presume to contradict
and deny the important discovery of
the practical astronomer. But that is
just what men and women are doing in
this other field,-deny everything re-
corded of Christ in the gospels, when
they know no more of Christ than a
savage of the forest knows what is
going on in the mind of the most civ
O. 60